the crusade of the excelsior-第39章

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broke　in　gentle　undulations　over　the　bar；　and　seemed　to　lift　the

barque　in　rocking　buoyancy　over　the　slight　obstruction；　came　back

to　them　as　on　the　day　of　their　fateful　advent。　　The　low　orders　of

the　pilot；　the　cry　of　the　leadsman　in　the　chains；　were　but　a　part

of　the　restful　past。



Under　the　combined　influence　of　the　hour　and　the　climate；　the

conversation　fell　into　monosyllables；　and　Mrs。　Markham　dozed。　　The

lovers　sat　silently　together；　but　the　memory　of　a　kiss　was　between

them。　　It　spanned　the　gulf　of　the　past　with　an　airy　bridge；　over

which　their　secret　thoughts　and　fancies　passed　and　repassed　with　a

delicious　security；　henceforth　they　could　not　flee　from　that

memory；　even　if　they　wished；　they　read　it　in　each　other's　lightest

glance；　they　felt　it　in　the　passing　touch　of　each　other's　hands；　it

lingered；　with　vague　tenderness；　on　the　most　trivial　interchange　of

thought。　　Yet　they　spoke　a　little　of　the　future。　　Eleanor　believed

that　her　brother　would　not　object　to　their　union；　he　had　spoken　of

entering　into　business　at　Todos　Santos；　and　perhaps　when　peace　and

security　were　restored　they　might　live　together。　　Hurlstone　did　not

tell　her　that　a　brief　examination　of　his　wife's　papers　had　shown

him　that　the　property　he　had　set　aside　for　her　maintenance；　and

from　which　she　had　regularly　drawn　an　income；　had　increased　in

value；　and　left　him　a　rich　man。　　He　only　pressed　her　hand；　and

whispered　that　her　wishes　should　be　his。　　They　had　become　tenderly

silent　again；　as　the　Excelsior；　now　fairly　in　the　bay；　appeared　to

be　slowly　drifting；　with　listless　sails　and　idle　helm；　in　languid

search　of　an　anchorage。　　Suddenly　they　were　startled　by　a　cry　from

the　lookout。



〃Sail　ho！〃



There　was　an　incredulous　start　on　the　deck。　　The　mate　sprang　into

the　fore…rigging　with　an　oath　of　protestation。　　But　at　the　same

moment　the　tall　masts　and　spars　of　a　vessel　suddenly　rose　like　a

phantom　out　of　the　fog　at　their　side。　　The　half　disciplined　foreign

crew　uttered　a　cry　of　rage　and　trepidation；　and　huddled　like　sheep

in　the　waist；　with　distracted　gestures；　even　the　two　men　at　the

wheel　forsook　their　post　to　run　in　dazed　terror　to　the　taffrail。

Before　the　mate　could　restore　order　to　this　chaos；　the　Excelsior

had　drifted；　with　a　scarcely　perceptible　concussion；　against　the

counter　of　the　strange　vessel。　　In　an　instant　a　dozen　figures

appeared　on　its　bulwarks；　and　dropped　unimpeded　upon　the

Excelsior's　deck。　　As　the　foremost　one　approached　the　mate；　the

latter　shrank　back　in　consternation。



〃Captain　Bunker！〃



〃Yes；〃　said　the　figure；　advancing　with　a　mocking　laugh；　〃Captain

Bunker　it　is。　　Captain　Bunker；　formerly　of　this　American　barque

Excelsior；　and　now　of　the　Mexican　ship　La　Trinidad。　　Captain　Bunker

ez　larnt　every　foot　of　that　passage　in　an　open　boat　last　August；

and　didn't　forget　it　yesterday　in　a　big　ship！　　Captain　Bunker　ez

has　just　landed　a　company　of　dragoons　to　relieve　the　Presidio。

What　d'ye　say　to　that；　Mr。　M'Carthyeh？〃



〃I　say；〃　answered　M'Carthy；　raising　his　voice　with　a　desperate

effort　to　recover　his　calmness；　〃I　say　that　Perkins　landed　with

double　that　number　of　men　yesterday　around　that　point；　and　that

he'll　be　aboard　here　in　half　an　hour　to　make　you　answer　for　this

insult　to　his　ship　and　his　Government。〃



〃His　Government！〃　echoed　Bunker；　with　a　hoarser　laugh；　〃hear　him！

HIS　Government！　　His　Government　died　at　four　o'clock　this　morning；

when　his　own　ringleaders　gave　him　up　to　the　authorities。　　Ha！　　Why；

this　yer　revolution　is　played　out；　old　man；　and　Generalissimo

Leonidas　Perkins　is　locked　up　in　the　Presidio。〃





CHAPTER　IX。



LIBERATED。





The　revolution　was；　indeed；　ended。　　The　unexpected　arrival　of　a

relieving　garrison　in　the　bay　of　Todos　Santos　had　completed　what

the　dissensions　in　the　insurgents'　councils　had　begun；　the

discontents；　led　by　Brace　and　Winslow；　had　united　with　the

Government　against　Perkins　and　his　aliens；　but　a　compromise　had

been　effected　by　the　treacherous　giving　up　of　the　Liberator　himself

in　return　for　an　amnesty　granted　to　his　followers。　　The　part　that

Bunker　had　played　in　bringing　about　this　moral　catastrophe　was；

however；　purely　adventitious。　　When　he　had　recovered　his　health；

and　subsequent　events　had　corroborated　the　truth　of　his　story；　the

Mexican　Government；　who　had　compromised　with　Quinquinambo；　was

obliged　to　recognize　his　claims　by　offering　him　command　of　the

missionary　ship；　and　permission　to　rediscover　the　channel；　the

secret　of　which　had　been　lost　for　half　a　century　to　the　Government。

He　had　arrived　at　the　crucial　moment　when　Perkins'　command　were

scattered　along　the　seashore；　and　the　dragoons　had　invested　Todos

Santos　without　opposition。



Such　was　the　story　substantially　told　to　Hurlstone　and　confirmed　on

his　debarkation　with　the　ladies　at　Todos　Santos；　the　Excelsior

being　now　in　the　hands　of　the　authorities。　　Hurlstone　did　not

hesitate　to　express　to　Padre　Esteban　his　disgust　at　the　treachery

which　had　made　a　scapegoat　of　Senor　Perkins。　　But　to　his　surprise

the　cautious　priest　only　shrugged　his　shoulders　as　he　took　a

complacent　pinch　of　snuff。



〃Have　a　care；　Diego！　　You　are　of　necessity　grateful　to　this　man　for

the　news　he　has　broughtnay；　more；　for　possibly　being　the

instrument　elected　by　Providence　to　precipitate　the　denouement　of

that　miserable　woman's　lifebut　let　it　not　close　your　eyes　to　his

infamous　political　career。　　I　admit　that　he　was　opposed　to　the

revolt　of　the　heathen　against　us；　but　it　was　his　emissaries　and　his

doctrines　that　poisoned　with　heresy　the　fountains　from　which　they

drank。　　Enough！　　Be　grateful！　but　do　not　expect　ME　to　intercede　for

Baal　and　Ashtaroth！〃



〃Intercede！〃　echoed　Hurlstone；　alarmed　at　the　sudden　sacerdotal

hardness　that　had　overspread　the　old　priest's　face。　　〃Surely　the

Council　will　not　be　severe　with　the　man　who　was　betrayed　into　their

power　by　others　equally　guilty？〃



Padre　Esteban　avoided　Hurlstone's　eyes　as　he　answered　with　affected

coolness；〃Quien　sabe？　　There　will　be　expulsados；　no　doubt。　　The

Excelsior；　which　is　confiscated；　will　be　sent　to　Mexico　with　them。〃



〃I　must　see　Senor　Perkins；〃　said　Hurlstone　suddenly。



The　priest　hesitated。



〃When？〃　he　asked　cautiously。



〃At　once。〃



〃Good。〃　　He　wrote　a　hurried　line　on　a　piece　of　paper；　folded　it；

sealed　it；　and　gave　it　to　Hurlstone。　　〃You　will　hand　that　to　the

Comandante。　　He　will　give　you　access　to　the　prisoner。〃



In　less　than　half　an　hour　Hurlstone　presented　himself　before　the

Commander。　　The　events　of　the　last　twenty…four　hours　had　evidently

affected　Don　Miguel；　for　although　he　received　Hurlstone　courteously；

there　was　a　singular　reflection　of　the　priest's　harshness　in　his

face　as　he　glanced　over　the　missive。　　He　took　out　his　watch。



〃I　give　you　ten　minutes　with　the　prisoner；　Don　Diego。　　More；　I

cannot。〃



A　little　awed　by　the　manner　of　the　Commander；　Hurlstone　bowed　and

followed　him　across　the　courtyard。　　It　was　filled　with　soldiers；

and　near　the　gateway　a　double　file　of　dragoons；　with　loaded

carbines；　were　standing　at　ease。　　Two　sentries　were　ranged　on　each

side　of　an　open　door　which　gave　upon　the　courtyard。　　The　Commander

paused　before　it；　and　with　a　gesture　invited　him　to　enter。　　It　was

a　large　square　apartment；　lighted　only　by　the　open　door　and　a

grated　enclosure　above　it。　　Seated　in　his　shirtsleeves；　before　a

rude　table；　Senor　Perkins　was　quietly　writing。　　The　shadow　of

Hurlstone's　figure　falling　across　his　paper　caused　him　to　look　up。



Whatever　anxiety　Hurlstone　had　begun　to　feel；　it　was　quickly

dissipated　by　the　hearty；　affable；　and　even　happy　greeting　of　the

prisoner。



〃Ah！　what！　my　young　friend　Hurlstone！　　Again　an　unexpected

pleasure；〃　he　said；　extending　his　white　hands。　　〃And　again　you　find

me　wooing　the　Muse；　in；　I　fear；　hesitating　numbers。〃　　He　pointed　to

the　sheet　of　paper　before　him；　which　showed　some　attempts　at

versification。　　〃But　I　confess　to　a　singular　fascination　in　the

exercise　of　poetic　composition；　in　instants　of　leisure　like　thisa

fascination　which；　as　a　man　of　imagination　yourself；　you　can

appreciate。〃



〃And　I　am　sorry　to　find　you　here；　Senor　Perkins；〃　began　Hurlstone

frankly；　〃but　I　believe　it　will　not　be　for　long。〃



〃My　opinion；〃　said　the　Senor；　with　a　glance　of　gentle　contemplation

at　the　distant　Comandante；　〃as　far　as　I　may　express　it；　coincides

with　your　own。〃



〃I　have　come；〃　continued　Hurlstone　earnestly；　〃to　offer　you　my

services。　　I　am　ready；〃　he　raised　his　voice；　with　a　view　of　being

overheard；　〃to　bear　testimony　that　you　had　no　complicity　in　the

baser　part　of　the　late　conspiracy；the　revolt　of　the　savages；　and

that　you　did　your　best　to　counteract　the　evil；　although　in　doing　so

you　have　sacrificed　yourself。　　I　shall　claim　the　right　to　speak

from　my　own　knowledge　of　the　Indians　and　from　their　admission　to　me

that　they　were　led　away　by　the　vague　representations　of　Martinez；

Brace；　and　Winslow。〃



〃Pardonpardon　me；〃　said　Senor　Perkins　deprecatingly；　〃you　are

mistaken。　　My　general　instructions；　no　doubt；　justified　these　young

gentlemen　in　taking；　I　shall　not　say　extreme；　but　injudicious

measures。〃　　He　glanced　meaningly　in　the　direction　of　the　Commander；

as　if　to　warn　Hurlstone　from　continuing；　and　said　gently；　〃But　let

us　talk　of　something　else。　　I　thank　you　for　your　gracious

intentions；　but　you　remember　that　we　agreed　only　yesterday　that　you

knew　nothing　of　politics；　and　did　not　concern　yourself　with　them。

I　do　not　know　but　you　are　wise。　　Politics　and　the　science　of　self…

government；　although　dealing　with　general　principles；　are　apt　to　be

defined　by　the　individual　limitations　of　the　enthusiast。　　What　is

good　for　HIMSELF　he　too　often　deems　is　applicable　to　the　general

public；　instead　of　wisely　understanding　that　what　is　good　for　THEM

must　be　good　for　himself。　　But；〃　said　the　Senor　lightly；　〃we　are

again　transgressing。　　We　were　to　choose　another　topic。　　Let　it　be

yourself；　Mr。　Hurlstone。　　You　are　looking　well；　sir；　indeed；　I　may

say　I　never　saw　you　looking　so　well！　　Let　me　congratulate　you。

Health　is　the　right　of　youth。　　May　you　keep　both！〃



He　shook　Hurlstone's　hand　again　with　singular　fervor。



There　was　a　slight　bustle　and　commotion　at　the　door　of　the　guard…

room；　and　the　Commander's　attention　was　called　in　that　direction。

Hurlstone　profited　by　the　opportunity　to　say　in　a　hurried　whisper：



〃Tell　me　what　I　can　do　for　you；〃　and　he　hesitated　to　voice　his

renewed　uneasiness〃tell　me　ififif　your　case　isurgent！〃



Senor　Perkins　lifted　his　shoulders　and　smiled　with　grateful

benevolence。



〃You　have　already　promised　me　to　deliver　those　papers　and

manuscripts　of　my　deceased　friend；　and　to　endeavor　to　find　her

relations。　　I　do　not　think　it　is　urgent；　however。〃



〃I　do　not　mean　that；〃　said　Hurlstone　eagerly。　　〃I〃but　Perkins

stopped　him　with　a　sign　that　the　Commander　was　returning。